Mighty dollar holds little sway here

Love it or hate it there is no escaping the fact that winter forces us Nelsonians to ask a few questions about ourselves and where we live. Questions like, how the hell does anyone make any money at this time of year in retail or hospitality? How come, when things are supposed to be so tight, so many Nelsonians can afford to take overseas holidays? And how come I'm not one of them?

Yes, feeling sorry for oneself is easier than normal at this time of year. However, you do have to spare a thought for all those people who came here in a warmer season and got blinded by the sun. You know the ones I mean, the people who saw lots of smiling people in summer clothes spending money and, in a rush of blood to the head, sank their life savings into a business that relies on those sorts of conditions all year round.

Every 12 months there is a new bunch of them and you just can't help thinking: what the hell are you doing? It's not just the obvious ones with accents either. Sometimes they are older Kiwis who have moved here to semi-retire. They have a wad of cash after selling whatever they had, they pour it into a business that seemed like a good idea at the time and next thing you know, it's all gone.

I suppose it's a compliment that people who have somehow managed to accumulate a bit of money are so keen to make a go of it here. You just can't help wondering where some of them get their advice.

Chances are that unless you've never lived anywhere else or you are on home detention, winter will also have got you pondering the reasons you live here. Such questions never occur to the rational mind in spring, summer and autumn, but only a crackpot Nelson fundamentalist could resist having such thoughts in winter.

Let's face it, Nelson is an outdoors place and once you've been to the ASB Aquatic Centre, The Suter, The Nelson Provincial Museum and the movies, you're pretty much stuffed, especially if you've got kids.

So, if winter is a drag and the place practically shuts up shop for four months, why do so many of us stick with Nelson year in and year out?

Is it really as simple as the sunshine, sand, sauvignon blanc and scallops? I'm sure that they are a big part of the appeal and if you're into nature, Nelson is hard to beat but I think the region has another attraction that is highly under-rated – its people. Sure, there is a worryingly high number of useless munters, a few racists and a bunch of grumpy characters with too much time on their hands, but look around and you'll find a pretty likeable crew. And while Nelson appears to be home to increasingly significant differences in wealth, education and opportunity, we all have one thing in common: none of us are here to get rich. This isn't to say that some people aren't doing well for themselves but everyone I know like that would be making a packet more doing the same thing in a bigger place. In fact, Nelson is packed with people whose bank managers would be a lot happier if they were working somewhere else.

It seems to me that more people in Nelson put their families, friends and lifestyle ahead of their financial status than in a lot of other places. It also occurs to me that, thanks to unbridled capitalism, each year there are fewer places round the world that you can say that about.

The fact that not everyone's life is completely dominated by the mighty dollar is one of the main reasons Nelson enjoys the kind of community spirit that many other towns can only dream of. We would do well to acknowledge it and try, if possible, to protect it.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Paul   #3   12:21 pm Aug 25 2010

A lot of us don't 'stick' with Nelson. We move to a place that's less insular, less snobby and without an insecurity complex! You're right too - if you've got kids, a rainy day in Nelson means nothing to do.

Simon   #2   10:56 pm Aug 22 2010

All well and good, but you still have to pay the mortgage.......

Rodgerf   #1   01:54 pm Aug 22 2010

Thank you Matt for applying your name to your opinion,you've shown some gumption that seems to be lacking from the majority of opinions given by the those people that don't want others to think that some of their ideas are just dumb.If I didn't believe a word I wrote I guess I wouldn't put my name to it either.You deserve your holiday just for putting your name to your musings---enjoy.---As you can probably tell people that don't put their name to their opinions are my "Bugbear"

Ad Feedback